Plunger for brick-presses



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. L. SIMPSON. PLUNGER FOR 'BRIGK'PRESSES.

Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

WITNESSES: INV NTOI? OL M if. Arron/v2. v

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. L.- SIMPSON. PLUNGER FOR BRICK PRESSES.

No. 544,054. r Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

WITNESSES. INVENTOH I l By 7 ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

PETER L. SIMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PLUNGER FOR BRlCK-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,054, dated August 6, 1895.

Application filed October 20, 1894- Serial No. 526,427- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it. known that I, PETER L. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plungers for Brick-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to the class of brickpresses known as dry-press brick-machines, and has for its object improvement in the method of making steam connection to the removable legs of the plunger, and also the method of removing condensation from the legs of the upper plunger.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation,partly in section,of the upper and lower plungers and the molds of a brick-press. Fig.- 2 is an end elevation of one of the outer legs of the top plunger. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of one of the interior legs. Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on the line X X,

. looking to the'left and right, respectively; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 2' e.

To the bottom of the upper plunger-head l are attached a series of removable plungerlegs 2 by means of screws 3. The legs 2 fill the entire space along the face of the plungerhead 1 and at their faces of contact with one another are tongued and grooved, as shown at 4, and at these places packing is inserted to make steam-tight joints. A bolt 5" passes through the entire series of legs 2,and is provided with a nut 6 at each end, by means of which the said legs are drawn tightly together. Each leg is hollow in the interior and at its place of contact with the adjacent leg is provided with a circular opening 7,

through which the bolt 5 passes, and which is somewhat larger in diameter than said bolt.

This construction provides a continuous steam-passage through the entire series of legs, while at the same timepermitting the removal of any particular leg and the substitution of another leg, as is necessary when making ornamental bricks of different shapes. The outer legs are provided with steam-pipes 8 and 9, through one of which steam is admitted and through the other ofwhich it is discharged from the interior of the said legs. To prevent the accumulation of condensation in the pendent portions, the upper legs 2 are provided with partitions 10 that have openings 11 at the bottom for the passage of steam and at the upper part have only opening enough for the bolt 5 to pass through.

The legs connected to the lower plungerhead (which is not shown in the drawings) are similar in every respect to those on the upper plunger-head, but are not provided tition,and so on until discharged through the pipe 9. Any water that may accumulate at the first admission of steam is blown out by the steam that follows, as the spaces at the sides of the partitions 10 are not large enough to permit condensation to lodge where steam is flowing through.

When it is necessary to change one or more of the legs, so as to permit the making of some peculiarly-shaped brick, the bolt 5 is first removed, when as many legs as desired may be taken off and replaced by others.

' Having described my invention, what I claim is- In a brick press, a plunger head, a series of detachable legs connected to said plunger head, a continuous steam passage through said series of legs, and a bolt passing through the steam space in said legs'and serving to clamp them together.

PETER L. SIMPSON. Witnesses: 1

LEONARD E. BRooKEs, HERMAN E. S HNABEL. 

